Armed police to permanently patrol Britain's streets

Armed police are to carry out routine patrols in London to combat gun carrying drug gangs.

In an unprecedented move for British policing a team of 18 constables armed with sub-machineguns, led by an inspector and two sergeants, will operate permanently in "hotspots" in Brixton, Haringey and Tottenham.

The officers, from the Met's Specialist Firearm Command SO19, will patrol estates and streets to prevent shootings and stabbings.

The move, which follows a 30 per cent surge in gun crime in London this year, will be the first time in Britain that armed officers have been put on permanent patrol.

The officers — some on motorbikes — will be armed with Heckler & Koch MP5 sub-machineguns capable of firing up to 800 rounds per minute and Glock semi-automatic pistols.

The patrols will begin next month after a series of pilot schemes in recent weeks.

Inspector Derek Carroll told Jane's Police Review: "A lot of streets in London have young people in postcode gangs, aged 14 and upwards, and a lot of communities feel that they are controlling areas of estates. We are looking at gangs that have access to firearms and will be robust in dealing with them."

Mr Carroll said that one of the key aims would be to ease residents' fears by providing a visible sign that police were taking their concerns seriously.

The latest Met figures show that the number of gun crimes in September rose from 230 last year to 300 this year.

Over the last six months gun crime has risen by 17 per cent on last year, with 1,736 gun crimes reported in London between April and September this year — 252 more than the same period last year.

This month it was revealed that the number of "war wound" attacks — in which gang members shoot each other in the legs for "disrespect" — have more than doubled to 72 this year compared with the whole of last year.

Chief Inspector Neil Sharman, of SO19, said that the new patrols would be a significant change in tactics: "We have traditionally provided a response to gun crime. This new unit sees a move towards a more proactive approach to deal with weapons."

Although armed Met officers can often be seen on the streets, they have previously been restricted to guarding sites and individuals deemed at risk.